NbCl4

NbCl4 is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound composed of niobium and chlorine that is frequently studied for its structural properties.

ClNb
Crystal structure of NbCl4 (monoclinic, C2/m (No. 12))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About NbCl4

NbCl4 is a thermodynamically stable binary halide featuring niobium in a specific oxidation state. As a semiconducting material, it represents a significant subject of study within the broader landscape of transition metal halides, characterized by its presence on the convex hull of stability.

With numerous reported structures across various databases, this compound serves as a critical reference point for understanding niobium-based coordination chemistry. Its electronic properties and structural versatility make it a compelling subject for researchers investigating the fundamental behavior of metal-halide systems.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for NbCl4, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

1.08 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

20
3 databases, 6 space groups
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for NbCl4, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
C2/m (No. 12)monoclinic1.080.0000-11.2812.94
P2 (No. 3)Monoclinic3.32
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic2.61
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic2.63
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic2.59
P2 (No. 3)Monoclinic3.41
P1 (No. 1)Triclinic3.71
C2/m (No. 12)
P2 (No. 3)Monoclinic3.27
P2 (No. 3)Monoclinic3.25
P4mm (No. 99)Tetragonal3.31
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic3.67
Uses

Applications

Where NbCl4 is used.

Chemical vapor transport researchPrecursor for niobium-based materialsInorganic synthesis studies
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about NbCl4, answered from cross-validated data.

What is NbCl4?

NbCl4 is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound composed of niobium and chlorine that is frequently studied for its structural properties.

More questions
What is NbCl4 used for?
NbCl4 is used in chemical vapor transport research, precursor for niobium-based materials, and inorganic synthesis studies.
What is the band gap of NbCl4?
NbCl4 has a DFT-computed band gap of 1.08 eV across 20 reported structures.
Is NbCl4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.08 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is NbCl4 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — NbCl4 sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
What is the crystal structure of NbCl4?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of NbCl4 is monoclinic symmetry, space group C2/m (No. 12).
What is the density of NbCl4?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of NbCl4 is 2.94 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of NbCl4 are known?
20 structures of NbCl4 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 6 distinct space groups.
What elements does NbCl4 contain?
NbCl4 contains Cl and Nb (2 elements).
Where does the data for NbCl4 come from?
NbCl4 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, mpaloe, jarvis.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a distinct member of the niobium chloride family, NbCl4 occupies a unique position due to its inherent thermodynamic stability and semiconducting nature, which differentiate it from the varying stability profiles and electronic behaviors found in other binary niobium halides.

Data sources & attribution
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
  • mpaloe — Data from mpaloe.
  • jarvis — Data from JARVIS (NIST). Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020).

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